Urban Sam Atterbury

Urban Sam Atterbury

On Tuesday, December 16, 2020, Urban Sam Atterbury (Sam) passed away at the age of 88 after a courageous battle with complications from the COVID-19 virus. Sam was born June 21, 1932 in Ft. Snelling, Minnesota as the sole son and only child of Roy Clifford Atterbury and Mary Ila Atterbury (née Forare). He was named after famous baseball player Urban “Red’ Faber. Roy wanted his son to have the initials U.S.A. and be named after a major league ball player. He checked both these boxes with Urban Sam Atterbury. Sam spent his childhood crisscrossing the country with his parents in their travel trailer while Roy prepared army recruits for battle in World War II as a drill instructor. This experience gave Sam a deeper view and appreciation of the sacrifices and dedication of our country’s soldiers.

Summers were spent in Minnesota where his aunt Elsie MacDonald (née Forare) and her husband owned a farm. Sam had great memories playing there with his cousin Ruth Zeidler (née MacDonald). These experiences on the farm gave Sam a strong love of farming, farming communities, and a passion for animals. Sam inherited his love of baseball from his father. He played for the Central Methodist College’s baseball team where he attended from 1950 to 1954. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree, Sam tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals, but was told he should keep his day job. He would later say he was grateful that they had passed on him. Afterward, he attended the University of Missouri where he graduated in 1959 with a Master of Science in Social Work. In 1955, between his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, Sam was drafted into the army for the Korean War. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his work in the Mental Hygiene Unit in Ft. Bliss, Texas. Sam later continued his military service by joining the US Army Reserves in 1962 , where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was honorably discharged in 1982.

He met Judith Morice at the University of Missouri during his Master’s degree program. They were married 34 years and raised two daughters together before separating. In 1960, he joined the mental health team at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital of Tucson (now the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System) as a psychiatric social worker. During his tenure there, he formed ex-POW support groups and worked extensively with ex-POW individuals and combat veterans, specializing in those with PTSD. He tirelessly advocated for the needs and mental health of soldiers and worked to help re-integrate them into society. In 2003, Sam retired with 43 years service to veterans.

Sam loved all animals, horseback riding, and building things with his extensive tool assortment. Always a history fanatic, Sam enjoyed researching his family background, world history and exploring all he could about World War II, especially WWII aircraft. Though he seldom joked, he would wryly say that his dream job was to join the forest service and count trees. Always one for substance over style, Sam eschewed frills and pretension, avoided pomp and circumstance, and always used the catchphrase “No big deal.” Sam was proud of his daughters, their families and each one of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their accomplishments always brought a smile to his face. Preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Kwame; and great-grandson, Dimetrios, Sam is survived by daughters, Valerie Love (Tim) and Wendy Bolding (John); grandchildren, Sonja, Keoni and Aidan; and great-grandchildren, Elijah and Kingston.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Urban's name to POW-MIA Families at www.pow-miafamilies.org.